Big picture unchanged for ASU

by Jeff Metcalfe - Sept. 21, 2008 08:29 PMThe Arizona Republic

Less has changed for Arizona State football than its 2-2 start suggests.

The Sun Devils are one game behind where most expected them to be at the one-third mark. Games critical to their ultimate success remain the same - at California on Oct. 4 and Oregon on Oct. 25. They have two weeks to prepare for both with the Pac-10 bully, No. 1-ranked Southern California, in between on Oct. 11.

There is ample time to get turned around, build on a 1-0 Pac-10 record and qualify for a school-record fifth consecutive bowl game. Most national projections have ASU playing Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 20, which would be a chance to make up for its Mountain West Conference loss to Nevada-Las Vegas.

There are chances to get higher on the postseason food chain - Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30 or Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 - if ASU applies lessons learned against UNLV and in a 27-10 loss to No. 3-ranked Georgia.

"The attitude is good," coach Dennis Erickson said after seeing his team Sunday. "They came in here to go to work. They're ready to get into the last eight games of the season. We have the whole Pac-10 schedule left (aside from a 41-17 win over Stanford). That's what it's all about for us."

The longer Erickson analyzes the Georgia game, the more good he finds in it.

"We were fairly solid against the run, ran to the football and played hard," he said. "We had our chances, offensively too. We missed a couple of throws and blew protection where we could have had big plays. There were some opportunities to win it or make it closer, and we didn't make the plays. It's there. If we continue to work so we don't make those mistakes, we have a chance on both sides of the football."

Front men

The most visible position up for grabs during this open week is right tackle, where redshirt freshman Matt Hustad and junior-college transfer Tom Njunge are challenging redshirt freshman starter Adam Tello.

Hustad is returning from a knee injury and on the verge of his college debut. Njunge did not play against Georgia after alternating with Tello on the first team during practice last week.

True freshman Zach Schlink also is in the offensive-line mix after his redshirt season ended Saturday when he played on special teams. Senior Paul Fanaika is the starter at right guard, where Schlink is listed as the backup. Garth Gerhart also is pushing for time at center.

"There's a possibility of moving people around to play our best five up front," Erickson said.

Erickson expects Keegan Herring to return against Cal from a hamstring injury that has cost the senior three games, and Erickson continues to say he wants to see more of true freshman Ryan Bass and junior Jarrell Woods.

Herring is the "home-run hitter we don't have right now," he said

The Sun Devils will practice Tuesday through Thursday then get Friday and Saturday off before diving into the Cal game plan.